Pirates fall to Celtic power
Two late goals seal victory for visitors
TWO goals by Mthokozisi Dube and Tshepo Rikhotso for Bloemfontein Celtic downed Orlando Pirates 2-1 in their Absa Premiership match at Orlando Stadium last night.
Although they scored first through skipper and midfielder Oupa Manyisa, Augusto Palacios’ men failed to return to winning ways.
The loss sees the Sea Robbers moving to the eighth spot with 18 points on the log standings from 13 matches.
With both sides starting on a high, it was the hosts who found the back of the net when goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb and defender Wandisile Letlabika failed to communicate allowing Manyisa to easily score in the ninth minute.
Siwelele nearly responded a minute later through Khethokwakhe Masuku, but keeper Jackson Mabokgwane made a fine save and conceded a corner.
In the 21st minute, Celtic were awarded a set piece and the delivery found Rikhotso unmarked in the box, but the defender’s header went over the bar.
Four minutes later, Tignyemb was equal to the task to deny Manyisa from close range following a cross from Patrick Phungwayo. The keeper produced a save with his right foot to clear from the line off the upright.
It was 1-0 in favour of the hosts at halftime.
With both sides fighting for total dominance, it was the visitors who troubled Mabokgwane when Deon Hotto took a shot which was saved by the keeper in the 65th minute.
Beautiful play by Lehlohonolo Seema’s men in the 69th minute saw Hotto laying the ball for Musa Nyatama in the box, who failed to beat the oncoming Mabokgwane, with his shot going wide.
In the 77th minute, defender Dube launched a long ball in search of Ayanda Dlamini, but Mabokgwane misjudged the ball to be going out of play and was beaten by a bounce.
In injury time Rikhotso pounced on a cross from the right beating Mabokgwane on the far post to make it 2-1.
The win takes Siwelele to 12th spot with 15 points from 14 matches in the 2016-17 Premier Soccer League campaign. — Backpage TXT